The CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game was an annual event in which forty of the top National Hockey League (NHL) entry draft eligible prospects in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) played against each other in an all-star game environment. Players were able to boost their draft ranking with the NHL scouts and general managers attending. Each team was led by a celebrity coach, usually Don Cherry and Bobby Orr.
From 1992 to 1995 the event was known as the CHL All–Star Challenge, between the three CHL constituent leagues–the Western Hockey League (WHL), the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). In 1996, the CHL partnered with the NHL to create the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. Teams were led by a celebrity coach, with Don Cherry and Bobby Orr having been frequent coaches. Home Hardware became the corporate title sponsor starting in 2000, followed by Bank of Montreal (BMO) in 2014, Sherwin-Williams in 2017, and Kubota in 2020.
The last Top Prospects Game was held in 2024. For the 2024–25 season, a new event, the CHL USA Prospects Challenge, was inaugurated.
1992 CHL All–Star Challenge The inaugural CHL All–Star Challenge featured the host Western Hockey League team, versus and a combined team from the Ontario Hockey League and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. John Spoltore of the North Bay Centennials scored twice for the East, and Dean McAmmond of the Prince Albert Raiders scored the winning goal in overtime for the West.
1992 CHL All–Star ChallengeDate February 4, 1992Location Saskatchewan Place (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) Game report Home Away Team West (WHL) East (OHL/QMJHL)Coaches Mike FedorkoBryan Maxwell Jos CanaleTed NolanPlayer of the game Richard Matvichuk Fred Brathwaite Score (OT) 5 4
1993 CHL All–Star Challenge In the second CHL All–Star Challenge, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League hosted a combined team from the Western Hockey League and the Ontario Hockey League. Claude Savoie of the Victoriaville Tigres, and Martin Gendron of the Saint-Hyacinthe Laser, both scored twice for the QMJHL, but the WHL/OHL scored five goals in the third period to win the game.
1993 CHL All–Star ChallengeDate January 19, 1993Location Montreal Forum (Montreal, Quebec)Attendance 4,355 Game report Home Away Team QMJHL OHL/WHLCoaches Pierre Aubry Ted NolanBob LowesPlayer of the game Alexandre Daigle Jeff Shantz Score 5 7
1994 CHL All–Star Challenge In the third CHL All–Star Challenge, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League hosted a combined team from the Western Hockey League and the Ontario Hockey League. Sixteen goals were scored by fifteen different players, with Jeff Shevalier of the North Bay Centennials, scoring twice. Quebec led 4–2 after the first period, but were outscored 4–1 by the OHL/WHL in the third period.
1994 CHL All–Star ChallengeDate February 1, 1994Location Moncton Coliseum (Moncton, New Brunswick)Attendance 6,380 Game report Home Away Team QMJHL/Atlantic OHL/WHLCoaches Guy ChouinardMichel Therrien Ted NolanBrent PetersonPlayer of the game Samuel GroleauJason MacDonald Jeff Shevalier Score 7 9
1995 CHL All–Star Challenge The fourth CHL All–Star Challenge was hosted by the Ontario Hockey League, versus a combined team from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. The QMJHL/WHL scored the first five goals of the game, and won 8–3, led by two goals each from Eric Daze of the Beauport Harfangs, and Terry Ryan of the Tri-City Americans.
1995 CHL All–Star ChallengeDate January 31, 1995Location Kitchener Memorial Auditorium (Kitchener, Ontario)Attendance 5,679 Game report Home Away Team OHL QMJHL/WHLCoaches Paul Maurice Don HayJos CanalePlayer of the game Todd Bertuzzi Sébastien Bordeleau Score 3 8
1996 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game The first CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in 1996, was coached by celebrities Don Cherry and Bobby Orr, joined by assistants, Brian Kilrea, Blair Machasey, and Bob Loucks. Team Cherry won 9–3, led by Lance Ward of the Red Deer Rebels, and Jean-Pierre Dumont of the Val-d'Or Foreurs scoring two goals each.
1996 CHL/NHL Top Prospects GameDate February 15, 1996, 7:00 pmLocation Maple Leaf Gardens (Toronto, Ontario)Attendance 10,158 Game report Home Away Team Team Cherry Team OrrCoach Don Cherry Bobby OrrPlayer of the game Trevor Wasyluk Luke Curtin Score 9 3
1997 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game Cherry and Orr continued as coaches for the 1997 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. Brian Kilrea and Bert O'Brien of the Ottawa 67's joined Cherry as assistants. Orr was joined by Michel Therrien of the Granby Prédateurs, and Todd McLellan of the Swift Current Broncos. Team Orr led 4–0 after the first period, and won 7–2. Goaltender Roberto Luongo of the Val-d'Or Foreurs, made 29 saves in the victory. Jeff Zehr of the Windsor Spitfires, and Daniel Cleary of the Belleville Bulls scored two goals each.
1997 CHL/NHL Top Prospects GameDate February 12, 1997, 7:00 pmLocation Maple Leaf Gardens (Toronto, Ontario)Attendance 11,627 Game report Home Away Team Team Orr Team CherryCoach Bobby Orr Don CherryPlayer of the game Roberto Luongo Daniel Cleary Score 7 2
1998 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game Cherry and Orr continued as coaches for the 1998 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. Brian Kilrea returned as an assistant coach to Cherry, and Claude Julien of the Hull Olympiques, and Brent Peterson of the Portland Winter Hawks, joined Orr. Team Cherry lead 3–0 halfway through the game, and held on for a 4–2 win. Six different players scored one goal each, and goaltender Philippe Sauvé of the Rimouski Océanic stopped all 23 shots he faced.
1998 CHL/NHL Top Prospects GameDate February 10, 1998, 7:00 pmLocation Maple Leaf Gardens (Toronto, Ontario)Attendance 11,088 Game report Home Away Team Team Cherry Team Orr Coach Don Cherry Bobby OrrPlayer of the game Jonathan Cheechoo Michael Henrich Score 4 2
1999 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game Cherry and Orr continued as coaches for the 1999 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. Lanny McDonald and Brian Kilrea were assistant coaches to Cherry, and Dean Clark of the Calgary Hitmen, and Gaston Therrien of the Val-d'Or Foreurs, joined Orr. Team Cherry outshot Team Orr 42–25, but Team Orr won 4–3.
1999 CHL/NHL Top Prospects GameDate February 16, 1999, 7:00 pmLocation Canadian Airlines Saddledome (Calgary, Alberta)Attendance 14,100 Game report Home Away Team Team Orr Team Cherry Coach Bobby Orr Don Cherry Player of the game Chris KellyMaxime Ouellet Kris Beech Score 4 3
2000 Home Hardware Top Prospects Game
The CHL announced Home Hardware as the corporate title sponsor of the event, starting in 2000. Cherry and Orr continued as coaches for the 2000 Home Hardware Top Prospects Game. Brian Kilrea returned as an assistant coach to Cherry, and Dean Clark returned with Orr. Team Orr scored three goals in the third period, and won 6–3. Nathan Smith of the Swift Current Broncos scored twice for Team Orr, and Gerard Dicaire of the Seattle Thunderbirds scored two points for Team Cherry.
2000 Home Hardware Top Prospects GameDate February 2, 2000, 7:00 pmLocation Air Canada Centre (Toronto, Ontario)Attendance 10,356 Game report Home Away Team Team Cherry Team Orr Coach Don Cherry Bobby OrrPlayer of the game Steve Ott Nathan Smith Score 3 6
2001 Home Hardware Top Prospects Game Cherry and Orr continued as coaches for the 2001 Home Hardware Top Prospects Game. Lanny McDonald and Brian Kilrea were assistant coaches to Cherry, and Brent Sutter of the Red Deer Rebels, and Doris Labonté of the Rimouski Océanic, joined Orr. Greg Watson of the Prince Albert Raiders scored two goals and two assists, to lead Team Orr to a 5–3 victory.
2001 Home Hardware Top Prospects GameDate February 7, 2001, 7:00 pmLocation Pengrowth Saddledome (Calgary, Alberta)Attendance 8,855 Game report Home Away Team Team Orr Team Cherry Coach Bobby Orr Don Cherry Player of the game Greg Watson Derek Roy Score 5 3
2002 Home Hardware Top Prospects Game For the 2002 Home Hardware Top Prospects Game, the CHL announced Tiger Williams and Kelly Hrudey as the new celebrity coaches for the event. Bob Lowes of the Regina Pats, joined Williams and as assistant coach, and Kevin Dickie of the Saskatoon Blades, joined Hrudey. Pierre-Marc Bouchard of the Chicoutimi Saguenéens, and Joffrey Lupul of the Medicine Hat Tigers, both scored two goals. Petr Taticek of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds scored a penalty shot goal as part of Team Tiger's four goals in the second period, in a 7–4 victory by Team Tiger.
2002 Home Hardware Top Prospects GameDate January 31, 2002, 7:00 pmLocation Saskatchewan Place (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan)Attendance 10,078 Game report Home Away Team Team Hrudey Team Tiger Coach Kelly Hrudey Tiger Williams Player of the game Joffrey Lupul Jay Bouwmeester Score 4 7
2003 Home Hardware Top Prospects Game Cherry and Orr returned as coaches for the 2003 Home Hardware Top Prospects Game. Brian Kilrea returned as an assistant coach to Cherry, and Peter DeBoer of the Kitchener Rangers, joined Orr. Frank Rediker of the Windsor Spitfires, had a goal and an assist for Team Cherry, and Mike Richards of the Kitchener Rangers, had two assists, for Team Orr. Team Cherry scored three goals in the third period to win 4–3.
2003 Home Hardware Top Prospects GameDate January 22, 2003, 7:00 pmLocation Kitchener Memorial Auditorium (Kitchener, Ontario)Attendance 5,766 Game report Home Away Team Team Cherry Team Orr Coach Don Cherry Bobby OrrPlayer of the game Dan Fritsche Paul Bissonnette Score 4 3
2004 Home Hardware Top Prospects Game Cherry and Orr continued as coaches for the 2004 Home Hardware Top Prospects Game. Dale Hunter and Jacques Beaulieu of the London Knights, were assistant coaches to Cherry, and Brian Kilrea and Bert O'Brien of the Ottawa 67's, joined Orr. Team Orr scored the first three and last three goals to win 6–2. Blake Comeau of the Kelowna Rockets, scored four points, and Rob Schremp of the London Knights scored three points for Team Orr.
2004 Home Hardware Top Prospects GameDate January 21, 2004, 7:00 pmLocation John Labatt Centre (London, Ontario)Attendance 8,835 Game report Home Away Team Team Orr Team Cherry Coach Bobby Orr Don Cherry Player of the game Rob Schremp Wojtek Wolski Score 6 2
2005 Home Hardware Top Prospects Game Cherry continued as a coach for the 2005 Home Hardware Top Prospects Game. Orr was replaced by John Davidson as coach. Kenndal McArdle of the Moose Jaw Warriors scored two goals for Team Davidson. Gilbert Brulé of the Vancouver Giants scored two goals, leading Team Cherry to an 8–4 win.
2005 Home Hardware Top Prospects GameDate January 19, 2005, 7:00 pmLocation Pacific Coliseum (Vancouver, British Columbia)Attendance 16,331 Game report Home Away Team Team Cherry Team Davidson Coach Don Cherry John DavidsonPlayer of the game Gilbert Brulé Kenndal McArdle Score 8 4
2006 Home Hardware Top Prospects Game Cherry and Orr reunited as coaches for the 2006 Home Hardware Top Prospects Game. Team Cherry scored the first goals of the game, on assists from Ty Wishart of the Prince George Cougars. Team Orr scored seven unanswered goals to win the game. Bryan Little of the Barrie Colts scored twice to lead the way.
2006 Home Hardware Top Prospects GameDate January 18, 2006, 7:00 pmLocation Scotiabank Place (Ottawa, Ontario)Attendance 13,735 Game report Home Away Team Team Orr Team Cherry Coach Bobby Orr Don Cherry Player of the game Bryan LittleCodey Burki NONE Score 7 2
2007 Home Hardware Top Prospects Game